PODCAST · leisure
The Helpful Gardeners
by Golden Acre Home and Garden
Welcome to the Helpful Gardeners, a weekly podcast diving into the home and garden topics you want to learn more about. Colin is a certified horticulturist with decades of experience working in landscaping, gardening and houseplants in various climactic zones. Brandi is a beginner with a passion to ask questions.Subscribe to catch new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!
Episodes
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Are these plants real or AI?
While bloom scrolling the other day, we found that there's an increasing amount of ai generated plants popping up. Can you tell the difference? We're going to play a little game of "Ai or Real" on the podcast today. JOIN THE GARDEN Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast...
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Dry Your Garden
Putting the garden to bed is always a bittersweet milestone. As Carrie recently asked: “I’m feeling ready to put my garden to bed. It’s time. I still have some flowers going and wondering if it’s possible to dry them? How do I do it?” In this episode, we explore 3 ways to dry flowers from your...
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Let's Play Conkers!
Ready to be transported to Colin's childhood? Today on the podcast, we're playing a childhood favourite: Conkers! You can do this a certain nut in your own community! How to Play Equipment: Each player needs a single conker (Chestnut or Ohio Buckeye nut) threaded onto a 15-to-20-inch piece of...
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Does Fall Signal "THE END" of Outside Fun?
We had the "F" word in Alberta this past weekend... yep... FROST. You might be seeing more gardeners in your neighbourhood wrapping things up outside. Harvesting, pruning, doing their fall lawncare... it can feel a little sad, right? Well, if you live in a very seasonal growing zone, we encourage...
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One Garden, Two Perspectives
When two people look at the same garden, do they see the same thing? Brandi and Colin head downtown to explore one of Calgary’s most beautiful indoor green spaces: Devonian Gardens.JOIN THE GARDEN Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast...
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Rusty Garden Tools: Clean or Toss Out?
There's a space for rustic style in the garden shed, but having clean tools can actually make gardening more enjoyable and clean. With a little TLC, even the most neglected pruners and shovels can be brought back to life. Here's your guide to keeping your garden tools in tip-top shape. JOIN THE...
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Roadtrip to the University of Alberta Botanic Garden
Colin recently took a road trip to the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, and let’s just say, he’s still buzzing about it. He's got some show and tell and fun stories from this fun place just west of Edmonton, Alberta. CONNECT WITH US Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast...
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Take Your Plant to the Houseplant Hospital
What if your local garden centre offered an ICU for your struggling indoor plants? A brilliant 'Houseplant Hospital' concept out of the UK could be the future and could help plant parents gain confidence while saving time and money. Discover Hilda: https://hilda.co/ CONNECT WITH US Show Notes |...
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Disco Balls in the Garden: Do Shiny Objects Actually Deter Pests?
Have you seen that Instagram reel showing someone putting mini disco balls in their garden to deter pests? It’s definitely a vibe, but does it actually keep the critters out? Plus, it's Canada Day! Let's see how knowledgeable Colin is on the regional symbols of Canada. CONNECT WITH US Show Notes…
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Your Garden Needs More 'Weird'
Is your garden feeling a little… predictable? Like your following a checklist of things you need to "keep up with the jones'"? It’s time to break the mold. From mirrors that trick the eye, to niche flower design, to a fun viral porch trend. Add some much-needed whimsy to your outdoor space.…
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Garden Trouble: Caterpillar Clusters & Cleaver Squirrels
From creepy-crawly caterpillar clusters to squirrels turning your freshly planted flower beds into a snack bar, the questions this week are gooooood. Plus, the sweet email from a long time listener and a reminder to enjoy your flowers not only outside but also inside and with others. CONNECT WITH...
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Stop Guessing Your Garden Weather
Weather is incredibly localized, and understanding exactly how much rain, snow, or hail falls in your own backyard can help you take on a more proactive approach to your garden. This week, we’re exploring CoCoRaHS and how you can use that data to predict when you should cover your tender plants…
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Does Gardening Burn the Same Calories as Marathon Running?
After a particularly busy weekend tackling the garden beds, Colin tracked his fitness to see exactly how much "work" he was doing. The results are amazing. Gardening is a heavy-duty, full-body workout that most of us are severely underestimating. CONNECT WITH US Show Notes |...
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Wisteria, Peonies, and Forum Fatigue
Gardening forums can be convenient spaces to connect with other gardeners, but if you go in with a problem, they can often leave you more confused than when you started. We're diagnosing a sad hanging basket, talking Peony tea, and unveiling a new plant in Brandi's garden that comes straight out…
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New Plants To Watch For at your Local Garden Centre
Next to the Chelsea Flower show, the FlowerTrials comes close to a premiere event for gardeners. Plant breeders from across the globe gather in the Netherlands and Germany to show off their latest innovations. These aren’t just random flowers—these are specifically engineered, trialed, and...
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Lawncare is Life! FIFA grass at Home
Are you watching FIFA? Are you as glued to how incredible the pitch looks and thought, "I wish my lawn looked like that"? We’re going behind the curtain a little bit and sharing Colin’s 5 essential tips to get your home turf looking championship-ready. CONNECT WITH US Show Notes |...
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Electric Plants, Adulting with Soil, and Your Horoscope Garden Bee
You know you're a plant nerd when you get joy out of discovering which bee is your horoscope match, buying bags of soil on the weekend is 'fun', and when your heart flutters when you find a new houseplant invention. CONNECT WITH US Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast...
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Houseplant Board Game and Garden Gnomes are Back
The world of gardening is undergoing a whimsical shift. From comfortable board games about keeping houseplants alive, to the prestigious grounds of elite flower shows. We're talking about a fun new game on Kickstarter and the return of the Garden Gnome to trendy gardens. What's your take? CONNECT...
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Perennial Sharing: How to Not Kill Your Neigbours Kindness and Garden
Ever felt the pressure of working in someone else’s prized garden bed? This week on the podcast, we’re diving into a great listener question from Kurt, who was just gifted a Jacob’s Ladder by his neighbor. We’re breaking down how to dig it up so you don't kill the plant, the garden, and the...
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On the Road... To Butchart Gardens!
Pack your bags, we're heading to Vancouver Island! This week, Brandi is taking us on a virtual getaway to the iconic Butchart Gardens, and yes—she’s filming a gorgeous exclusive vlog from the grounds! Find out how a limestone quarry became a global backyard aesthetic. CONNECT WITH US Show Notes |...
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Do This When You Build Your Annual Planters
There is a kind of seasonal panic that hits when you walk into the garden center in spring. The tables are overflowing with colour and possibiliity. Have you ever felt overwhelmed, not sure of how many to buy and how to pair them to create a beautiful planter? Designing a show-stopping container...
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Garden Foundation: Your Questions on Soil
Staring at a bare garden bed and wondering how much soil to order without ending up with either not enough or a mountain of leftovers? Plus, we’re demystifying the difference between loam, garden mixes and compost, and settling a "rock" debate between friends. Get the dirt on all things soil!...
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The World Cup of Gardening: Highlights from the Chelsea Flower Show
While North American eyes are on the Fifa World Cup next month, Europe is celebrating the world cup of gardening with the Chelsea Flower Show! From jaw-dropping show gardens to indoor plant carousels that move with the sun, we're exploring the trends and fun that can inspire your own garden!...
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Bee Discovery, Landscaping Hacks, and Planting Flowers Down Medians
What a packed episode! We're diving into a new discovery on bee survival that left us floored. Plus, Brandi has an update on her big landscaping project and a hack to help you pay for your gardening this spring. Plus, we’re taking you on a mini-road trip to Vancouver Island, where hundreds of...
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Seeds of Doubt: Why That One Seed Company Deserves Another Go
Have you ever written off a seed brand based on your experience growing their product? A local gardener reached out frustrated that their seeds from a regional farm completely tanked last season. "Where is the best place to buy seed packets? Last year I got them from _________ and they were...
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From Fire Pit to Flower Garden
So, you’ve finally decided to ditch the old fire pit and that slate stone pad to grow something. We’re breaking down the details of excavation and planning for a new garden bed! CONNECT WITH US Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast...
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Why You're Attracted to Evergreens
Have you noticed how the city just smells better lately? The trees and plants are starting to wake up and giving off some serious pheromones. So, why does that scent of pine and soil chill us out and how can we replicate that in our own backyard? CONNECT WITH US Show Notes |...
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3 Things to To This Mother's Day
Mother's Day is this weekend and while you can never go wrong with flowers, there's a trend in 2026 toward experiences that we're currently LOVING. We're exploring a fun event on Vancouver Island and a local way to spend quality time outside on a garden tour! CONNECT WITH US Show Notes |...
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Spring Shoots: Help Them or Leave Them?
Spring is here and it's showing up everywhere! It's in the bird nests, tree buds, and even those green little shoots popping up through the soil. Should you do anything to help those shoots or will they thrive without intervention? CONNECT WITH US Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast...
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Can A Watering Schledule Make Your Garden More Resiliant?
Calgary just dropped a brand-new outdoor watering schedule for Spring 2026! Don't worry, this isn't those high-stress Stage 4 restrictions from the feeder main repairs. This will actually help your established plants become more resiliant while also keeping our Bow and Elbow rivers happy. We’re...
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Gardening with Chronic Illness
The image of a "gardener" isn't just a retired person in a sun hat with a perfectly manicured rose bush. Gardening is for the dreamers, the hustlers, and yes, even those of us living with chronic illness or physical limitations. We were recently moved by a story from a woman living with Multiple...
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My Balcony is Banned... What Can I Grow?!
Imagine this: You’ve just finished an amazing agriculture course and you’re hyped about growing plants this summer. Then, the hammer drops. No balcony access all summer due to to health and safety upgrades to your building. Cue the internal screaming. pivot when your outdoor space is off-limits,...
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Seed Snails and Gardening on Netflix
Ever feel like you’re drowning in seed trays? Trying to find space for forty little pots on one windowsill can make seed starting stressful. There's a DIY hack that you need to know about: Seed Snails. They’re eco-friendly, space-saving, and can even make a fun creative gift! CONNECT WITH US Show...
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Grow Your Groceries
Wait! Don’t toss those green onion nubs or that avocado pit just yet. Your kitchen scraps are a secret "buy one, get one free" deal if you're willing to invest a little time into them. Grow more food or to just have fun and see where your food comes from! CONNECT WITH US Show Notes |...
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NASA Garden Tech
Ever wish your plant could just text you when it’s thirsty instead of dramatically dying in silence? This week, we’re geeking out over NASA’s STELLA project—a DIY "Tricorder" that lets you see your plants’ vital signs! We’re talking invisible light, "pre-visual" stress detection, and a data…
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Setting the Tone for this Growing Season
Stop what you’re doing for a second. Take a deep breath. Can you smell the damp soil or the faint scent of that first spring bloom? We get so caught up in the perfection of life—wanting our homes, our careers, and our gardens to look perfect and static forever. But here’s a secret: flowers aren't...
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Reduce, Reuse, and Regrow... using Milk Jugs?!
We are knee-deep in Earth Week and today, we’re answering a listener question from our DMs about starting seeds in milk jugs! From DIY greenhouses to turning other recycling bin favourites into garden tools. Get ready to "reduce, reuse, and regrow". SPRINGO Episode: Click Here Depression Garden...
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Earth Week: What Are Colin's Favourites?
It's Earth Week on the pod, and these two peas are on the road at the CORE Shopping Centre in downtown Calgary. We’re celebrating our beautiful planet by showcasing ideas and Earth friendly products. What's on Colin's 'favourites' list? Come see Colin with Golden Acre Home & Garden at The CORE in...
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What's Your Garden's Microclimate?
Ever wondered why a plant does amazing in one part of your yard and fail in another part of it? It might not be the plant itself! This week we’re breaking down how to map out "microclimates"—those sneaky little pockets where external factors like house siding, hills, and wind corridors can impact...
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Cancel Your Shovel For 'No Dig' Gardening
So, you’re scrolling through your feed, and you keep seeing this term: No-Dig Gardening. What is that? Are you just supposed to lay your plants on top of the soil and let nature figure it out? It's actually a returning concept that could benefit your soil and create less maintenance work for you....
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How Your Garden Outwits, Outplays, and Outlasts to Survive
Have you ever felt like your houseplants are stuck in slow-mo, or maybe your garden suddenly decided to sprint toward the finish line? It turns out plants aren’t just sitting there—they are actively hitting "pause," "play," and "fast-forward" on their growth depending on external factors such as...
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Delegate This Garden Task to Lasers
Ever dreamed of pointing a finger at a dandelion and having it simply disappear? This week on the podcast, we’re ditching the back-breaking hoeing and messy herbicides for something way cooler: high-powered thermal energy... aka "LASERS". We’re talking laser weeding—where AI meets agriculture to...
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This ones for the Kids
Oh, to be in the mind of a child. This weeks 'question period' is going to the kids as Colin shares some fun nuggets from kids at Holy Trinity School in Calgary, AB. Things like: "Why do you like plants" to "why do plants get diseases" to "How old are you?". It's a fun one for the whole family!...
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4 New Gardening Shows You Can't Miss
While we eagerly wait for warmer weather in the garden, get ready to swap your garden shears for the remote. From Zach Galifianakis getting weird with vegetables to the GOAT himself, David Attenborough, celebrating a century on Earth, the streaming world is entering its "Plant Era." We’re…
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What's Your Garden's 'Return on Investment'?
The world of gardening has definitely shifted since 2020. We went from "panic-planting" anything that would grow to finding our "new normal," and now in 2026, we’re all about the Garden ROI - Return on Investment. With the economy feeling a bit like a rollercoaster, we’re seeing a trend toward...
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To Ask or To Ghost?
It's Spring—you’re digging through the shed, ready to tackle those first dandelions, when it hits you. Your favorite weeder is missing in action. Then you remember—you lent it to Robert back in July. It’s been eight months. What do you do? We’re diving into the awkward etiquette of borrowed…
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Garden Tools Are Getting Passports?!
In an increasingly connected world that's full of choice, do you ever wonder how your soil or garden tools are made, transported, and go once their time is up? Well, the EU is getting ready to introduce the Digital Product Passport (DPP) later this year. From PFAS-free certifications to the…
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Backyards aren't as "back" as they used to be..
Ever feel like the world is watching? Between real estate drones and Google Maps, our backyards aren't as "back" as they used to be. We garden for a thousand reasons: the crunch of a homegrown carrot, the scent of Lilacs in May, and that deep, soul-level exhale that only happens when you’re...
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When Your Seeds Ghost You
Is there anything more heartbreaking than tucking your tiny seed babies into their warm soil beds, whispering "see you soon," and then... nothing? Or worse, they sprout, but then just stop growing? From leggy tomatoes to rosemary that refuses to wake up, we’re troubleshooting the most common...
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Stop killing this "weed" and start eating them
Forget everything you thought you knew about those yellow "weeds" in your lawn. We’re talking Dandelion Microgreens—the nutrient-packed plant that is easy to grow and fun for the whole family. It's truly as easy as tossing seeds on top of the soil and waiting. While the mature plant can be quite...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to the Helpful Gardeners, a weekly podcast diving into the home and garden topics you want to learn more about. Colin is a certified horticulturist with decades of experience working in landscaping, gardening and houseplants in various climactic zones. Brandi is a beginner with a passion to ask questions.Subscribe to catch new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!
HOSTED BY
Golden Acre Home and Garden
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Helpful Gardeners have?
The Helpful Gardeners currently has 227 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Helpful Gardeners about?
Welcome to the Helpful Gardeners, a weekly podcast diving into the home and garden topics you want to learn more about. Colin is a certified horticulturist with decades of experience working in landscaping, gardening and houseplants in various climactic zones. Brandi is a beginner with a passion to...
How often does The Helpful Gardeners release new episodes?
The Helpful Gardeners publishes regularly with 227 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Helpful Gardeners?
You can listen to The Helpful Gardeners on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Helpful Gardeners?
The Helpful Gardeners is created and hosted by Golden Acre Home and Garden.
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